The Pen and Pencil, an absolute staple for brunches and drinks in the Northern Quarter, is celebrating a major milestone this month with a huge party and some unbeatable deals.
The bar and restaurant will be marking 10 years on Tariff Street in September – and it’s only right that we all pile in to celebrate with them.
This spot is one of the city’s original bottomless brunch venues and is similarly famed for its happy hour offerings, and opened in 2015 to bring a taste of Manhattan to Manchester.
Pen and Pencil took its name from the infamous New York City bar that was seen in Mad Men.
And now as it turns 10 years old, it’ll be throwing one big party on Saturday 27 September, featuring 10 hours of DJs, free pints of Red Stripe at 10pm, and a special bottomless brunch offering.
ADVERTISEMENT
Those DJing on the day will include Drag Race UK’s Banksie, as well as Les Croasdaile, Mark Hogg, Danny Ward and A Deeper Groove.
Pen & Pencil has amazing deals for its 10th birthdayPen & Pencil is a Northern Quarter OG
The Pen and Pencil 10th birthday party will kick off from 2pm and run until late – but if you can’t make that one, there’ll be celebrations all week (and, indeed, month) long.
ADVERTISEMENT
On Tuesday 23 September, you’ll be able to play for double prize money in The Pen and Pencil quiz, as well as enjoying happy hour drinks all night.
Then on Friday 26 September, it’ll be an all-night happy hour, with free tequila shots at 10pm and music from DJs Nev Johnson and Gareth James from 7pm.
All September long, there’ll be 50% off food every Monday, two-for-£10 cocktails every Wednesday, £10 burgers every Thursday, happy hour all night on Fridays, 10 dishes for £10 and two bloody Marys for £10 on Sundays, plus DJs on Fridays and Saturdays.
ADVERTISEMENT
There’s a new colourful art installation outside the venue inspired by the bar’s New York roots.
Owner Kevin Connor said: “We’re really excited to be celebrating being part of the Manchester community for ten years!
“New York’s Pen and Pencil was a classic steak and cocktail joint, and we’re proud to have created our very own iconic Northern Quarter hangout. We hope everyone will join us in celebrating ten years on Tariff Street.”
Walk-ins are welcome for The Pen and Pencil 10th birthday party on Saturday 27 September, but booking is encouraged – book your spot HERE.
Featured image: The Manc Group
Sponsored
Rochdale’s popular Feel Good Festival is set to return this summer
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Worried you might have missed your chance to attend a festival this year? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
Rochdale Feel Good Festival is one of the longest-running and best-value festivals in Greater Manchester, and luckily for us, it’s returning again with a star-studded main stage line-up this August.
On Saturday 8 August, you’ll have the chance to see some big names bringing sing-along anthems to Rochdale, like two-time BRIT Award winner and pop/soul legend, Gabrielle, who has recently gained a whole host of younger fans during performances on ITV’s The Masked Singer eagerly awaiting this performance.
Other headliners include Northern Irish rock band, Ash, and Wigan-formed alternative rock band Starsailor, attracting fans from far and wide.
You can also expect sets from soul and funk pioneers, The Allergies, and Manchester indie artist, Alex Spencer – who first gained attention busking on the streets and has gone on to support One Direction star Louis Tomlinson across European arenas earlier this year.
This festival also proudly showcases upcoming artists too, and this year, two new Rochdale bands will play the biggest gig of their careers – K-ESTATE, who will be adding some house-pop, funk, and indie disco to the mix, alongside brand new rock band, Metro.
Rochdale’s popular Feel Good Festival is set to return later this summer / Credit: Supplied
Festival gates open at 12pm, so be sure to get down early as there’s plenty going on, including live music across indoor venues, a food and drink village with delicious street food, pop-ups, bars, and much more.
The bi-annual festival is organised by Rochdale Development Agency (RDA) on behalf of Rochdale Borough Council with sponsorship from local businesses, including Premier Kia, The Royal Toby Hotel, Hopwood Hall College, and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).
This is a climate-conscious festival, so to minimise waste on the day, tickets include a reusable drink cup to be collected upon arrival at the festival site.
Rochdale Feel Good Festival 2026 takes place on Saturday 8 August, and tickets are available online for £35 each.
If you’re feeling like treating yourself, there’s a choice of two luxury VIP upgrade packages from only £90, which grants access to a private indoor bar, hot street food table service, indoor and outdoor seating, a viewing terrace, as well as toilets and rest areas.
Spend summer in space as 30ft rocket ship arrives at Science and Industry Museum next month
Emily Sergeant
Get ready to spend the summer in space, as Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum has announced its summer events programme.
And it’s full of free interactive events and activities to get involved with.
As the temperatures rise, schools across Greater Manchester get ready to break up for summer, and parents and carers gear up to entertain the little ones, the Science and Industry Museum has just announced its summer events programme – with some new space-themed activities on the lineup for the first time.
It’s time to embark on an unforgettable adventure through the Solar System, as families can blast off on a journey packed with hands-on experiences and cosmic fun.
Science and Industry Museum has announced its summer events programme / Credit: Science Museum Group
From live space shows and giant rockets, to tinkering activities Martian discovery trails, and the chance to visit the blockbuster exhibition Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos if you haven’t already, budding astronauts are in for a summer to remember.
By far one of the stand-out free events this summer is the arrival of 30-foot-tall rocket ship, Skybolt 2 – hosted by Manchester-based aerospace company, Starchaser – giving visitors the chance to revel at the real-life space craft and meet the team behind the rocket.
Designed to reach speeds of up to 3200mph, Skybolt 2 first flew in September 2017 and still displays some visible marks from its landing.
There’ll also be a new twist on the classic seaside puppet show, as artist Solar Sister brings space stories to life during interactive walkabout performances alongside an astronaut puppet companion.
Little Mancs can even get involved with draw-a-long workshops, take on space-inspired LEGO challenges, and even turn everyday items into instruments by joining a junk percussion jam inspired by space waste.
Then, on Wednesday 12 August, rocket activities will be swapped for a special event to mark the upcoming solar eclipse.
Expect live interactive shows, demonstrations, spectacular images of the Sun disappearing on giant screens, as well opportunities to discover more about this rare celestial event.
Science and Industry Museum’s Director, Sally MacDonald, said free and affordable experiences are ‘more essential than ever’ during the summer holidays.
“Our summer programme will offer families memorable days out to enjoy together, giving them the opportunity to explore the universe without even leaving Manchester,” she added.
The summer events programme will be running at the Science and Industry Museum from Saturday 18 July through to Tuesday 1 September, and you can find out more here.
Daisy Jackson -
12th September 2025 
